Alabama Walks Off No. 5 Auburn for First Series Win Since 2023

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama clinched its first series win against No. 5 Auburn since 2023, thanks to Bryce Fowler's walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth that drove home Brennan Holt, giving the Tide a 3-2 victory in game two.

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Just like in game one, Auburn struck first in Saturday's game two matchup. The Tigers' center fielder, Bristol Carter, got on base by drawing a walk and later crossed home plate after a wild pitch from Alabama pitcher Zane Adams got past catcher John Lemm, allowing Carter to score and giving Auburn a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the first inning.

Runs were scarce in this game, especially early on, as both teams' starting pitchers put on a master class. Alabama's left-hander Zane Adams and Auburn's lefty Jackson Sanders each struck out five batters within the first three innings. Both pitchers allowed just one run and combined for five hits through the first three innings of game two.

Adams, on the other hand, kept dominating, with the left-handed pitcher going on to pitch through 6.1 innings, during which he scattered four hits, allowed one earned run, walked two batters, and struck out eight, totaling 107 pitches in Alabama's win.

Despite Adams' terrific performance, he was not credited with the win. Hagan Banks, who came in from the bullpen in the eighth inning to relieve Bobby Alcock (who pitched just the seventh inning), pitched the final two innings. Banks allowed one hit, no runs, and walked one batter to pick up his first win of the season on Saturday.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Alabama finally got on the board with a sacrifice bunt from team captain and designated hitter Will Plattner, driving home Neal from third base after the right fielder singled earlier in the inning. This evened the game at 1-1. The Crimson Tide then took their first lead when first baseman Luke Vaughn hit a line drive back to Auburn's pitcher, Jackson Sanders, who was unable to field it. Vaughn reached first safely and brought home Lemm from third base.

Auburn tied the game in the top of the seventh inning after Adams' departure, collecting two hits in the inning. Pinch hitter Logan Gregorio drove home Brandon McCraine from third base with a sacrifice fly, making it a 2-2 game heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Holt led off with a double to left field. In the very next at-bat, the Tide's center fielder, who also had a terrific day on defense with eight putouts, including a couple of acrobatic diving catches, Fowler drilled a walk-off RBI double to deep center field, driving home Holt for the go-ahead, game-winning run that clinched the series for Alabama.

Alabama improves to 21-7 on the season and 5-3 in SEC play, and the Tide will be back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. as they look to complete the series sweep in game three on Sunday.

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